Add parallel Print Page Options

Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, Who Forgives All Your Sins

Heading
By David.

Invitation to Praise

Bless the Lord,[a] O my soul.
All that is within me, bless his holy name.

Praise for Personal Blessings

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who pardons all your guilt,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion,
who satisfies your life[b] with goodness,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Praise for Blessings Through Moses

The Lord performs righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel.

God’s Great Mercy

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
He will not always accuse.
He will not keep his anger forever.
10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve.
He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds.

God’s Mercy Illustrated

11 Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear him.
12 As distant as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were formed.
He remembers that we are dust.

Man’s Short Life

15 As for man, his days are like grass.
Like a wildflower he blossoms.
16 Then the wind blows over it, and it is gone,
and its place recognizes it no more.

The Covenant With Moses Proclaims God’s Eternal Mercy

17 But the Lord’s mercy is from eternity to eternity
    over those who fear him,
and his righteousness is with their children’s children,
18     with those who keep his covenant,
    with those who remember his precepts in order to obey them.

Closing Praise

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his royal power rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, you his angels,
you strong warriors who obey his word
    by listening to what he says.
21 Bless the Lord, all his armies,
you who minister to him,
you who do whatever pleases him.
22 Bless the Lord, everything he has made
    in all places where he rules.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 103:1 God blesses us by giving us gifts. We bless God by praising him.
  2. Psalm 103:5 The meaning of this word is uncertain. It may mean your ornaments or soul, your jaw or mouth, or your old age. The Greek has your desires.

Psalm 103

Of David.

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul;(B)
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.(C)
Praise the Lord,(D) my soul,
    and forget not(E) all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins(F)
    and heals(G) all your diseases,
who redeems your life(H) from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,(I)
who satisfies(J) your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed(K) like the eagle’s.(L)

The Lord works righteousness(M)
    and justice for all the oppressed.(N)

He made known(O) his ways(P) to Moses,
    his deeds(Q) to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,(R)
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;(S)
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve(T)
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love(U) for those who fear him;(V)
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions(W) from us.

13 As a father has compassion(X) on his children,
    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,(Y)
    he remembers that we are dust.(Z)
15 The life of mortals is like grass,(AA)
    they flourish like a flower(AB) of the field;
16 the wind blows(AC) over it and it is gone,
    and its place(AD) remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children(AE)
18 with those who keep his covenant(AF)
    and remember(AG) to obey his precepts.(AH)

19 The Lord has established his throne(AI) in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules(AJ) over all.

20 Praise the Lord,(AK) you his angels,(AL)
    you mighty ones(AM) who do his bidding,(AN)
    who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,(AO)
    you his servants(AP) who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works(AQ)
    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.(AR)